अथ तद्विद्रुतं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा देवः पुरंदरः। आश्वासयन्नुवाचेदं बलभिद्दानवार्दितम्
Then, seeing the army in flight, the god Purandara encouraged them, addressing the force that was broken and afflicted by the Danavas.
भयं त्यजत भद्रं व शूराः शस्त्राणि गृह्णत। कुरुध्वंविक्रमे बुद्धिं मा वः काचिद्व्यथा भवेत्
Abandon fear, be well, O heroes; take up your weapons! Set your minds on valor—let no distress arise among you.
जयतैनाम्सुदुर्वृत्तान्दानवान्घोरदर्शनान्। अभिद्रवत भद्रं वो मया सह महासुरान्
Conquer these wicked Danavas of terrible appearance; charge upon the great Asuras with me—good fortune to you!
शक्रस् वचनं श्रुत्वा समाश्वस्ता दिवौकसः। दानवान्प्रत्ययुध्यन्त शक्रं कृत्वा व्यपाश्रयम्
Hearing Shakra’s words, the celestials regained their courage and fought back against the Danavas, taking Shakra as their refuge.
ततस्ते त्रिदशाः सर्वेमरुतश्च महाबलाः। प्रत्युद्ययुर्महाभागाः साध्याश्च वसुभिः सह
Then all the gods, along with the mighty Maruts, the blessed Sadhyas, and the Vasus, advanced together.
तैर्विसृष्टान्यनीकेषु क्रुद्धैः शस्त्राणि संयुगे। शराश्च दैत्यकायेषु पिबन्ति रुधिरं बहु
In that battle, the enraged gods hurled their weapons at the enemy ranks; arrows pierced the bodies of the Daityas, drinking much blood.
तेषां देहान्विनिर्भिद्य शरास्ते निशितास्तदा। निपतन्तोऽभ्यदृश्यन्त नगेभ्य इव पन्नगाः
Then those sharp arrows pierced their bodies, and as they fell, they appeared like serpents descending from mountains.
तानि दैत्यशरीराणि निर्भिन्नानिस्म सायकैः। अपतन्भूतलेराजंश्छिन्नाभ्राणीव सर्वशः
Those Daitya bodies, shattered by arrows, fell to the earth, O King, like clouds torn apart and scattered.
ततस्तद्दानवं सैन्यं सर्वैर्देवगणैर्युधि। त्रासितं विविधैर्बाणैः कृतंचैव पराङ्युखम्
Then that army of Dānavas was struck with fear in battle by all the hosts of gods, who assailed them with many kinds of arrows and turned them to flight.
अथोत्क्रुष्टं तदा हृष्टैः सर्वैर्देवैरुदायुधैः। संहतानि च तूर्याणि प्रावाद्यन्त ह्यनेकशः
At that moment, all the gods, delighted and armed, raised a great shout, and many kinds of instruments were sounded together.
एवमन्योन्रसंयुक्तं युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम्। देवानां दानवानां च मांसशोणितकर्दमम्
Thus there was a terrible battle, fierce and mingled, between the gods and the Dānavas, with mud made of flesh and blood.
अनयो देवलोकस्य सहसैवाभ्यदृश्यत। तथहि दानवा घोरा विनिघ्नन्ति दिवौकसः
Suddenly, disaster appeared for the realm of the gods, for the fierce Dānavas began to slaughter the dwellers of heaven.
ततस्तूर्यप्रणादाश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनाः। बभूवुर्दानवेन्द्राणां सिंहनादाश्च दारुणाः
Then the blaring of trumpets and the great booming of drums arose among the Dānava lords, along with their dreadful lion-roars.
अथ दैत्यबलाद्घोरान्निष्पपात महाबलः। दानवो महिषो नाम प्रगृह्य विपुलं गिरिम्
Then from the Daitya forces emerged the mighty Dānava named Mahiṣa, terrifying in strength, who seized a great mountain.
ते तं धनैरिवादित्यं दृष्ट्वासंपरिवारितम्। तमुद्यतगिरिं राजन्व्यद्रवन्त दिवौकसः
Seeing him surrounded like the sun by wealth, O King, and raising that mountain aloft, the gods fled in all directions.
अथाभिद्रुत्य महिषो देवांश्चिक्षेप तं गिरिम्। `महाकायं महाराज सतोयमिव तोयदम्
Then Mahiṣa rushed forward and hurled that great mountain at the gods, O great king, as a raincloud casts down water.
पतता तेन गिरिणा देवसैन्यस् पार्थिव। भीमरूपेण निहतमयुतं प्रापतद्भुवि
As that mountain fell, O King, it struck the army of the gods with a terrifying form, and tens of thousands were slain and fell to the earth.
अथ तैर्दानवैः सार्धं महिषस्त्रासयन्सुरान्। अभ्यद्रवद्रणे तूर्णं सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव
Then, together with those Dānavas, Mahiṣa charged swiftly in battle, terrifying the gods like a lion scattering small animals.
तमापतन्तं महिषं दृष्ट्वा सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः। व्यद्रवन्तरणे बीता विकीर्णायुधकेतनाः
Seeing Mahiṣa rushing upon them, the gods along with Indra, their weapons and banners scattered, fled in fear on the battlefield.
ततःस महिषः क्रुद्धस्तूर्णं रुद्ररथं ययौ। अभिद्रुत्य च जग्राह रुद्रस् रथकूवरम्
Then that enraged Mahiṣa quickly advanced toward Rudra's chariot, and rushing upon it, seized the pole of Rudra's chariot.
यदा रुद्ररथं क्रुद्धो महिषः सहसा गतः। रेसतू रोदसी गाढं मुमुहुश् महर्षयः
When the furious Mahiṣa suddenly reached Rudra's chariot, the heavens resounded deeply, and the great sages were struck with dismay.
अनदंश्चमहाकाया दैत्या जलधरोपमाः। आसीच्चनिश्चितं तेषां जितमस्माभिरित्युत
The mighty-bodied Daityas, like thunderclouds, roared aloud, and it seemed uncertain to them whether victory was theirs.
तथाभूते तु भगवानाहूय गुहमात्मजम्। `दौरात्म्यं पश्य पुतर् त्वं दानवस्य दुरात्मनः। जहि शीघ्रं दुराचारं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते बलम्
Then the Blessed Lord summoned Guha's son and said: 'See, my son, the wickedness of this evil-natured Dānava. Quickly slay this evildoer—I wish to witness your strength.'
इत्युक्ताव भगवान्स्कन्दं परिपूज्य महेश्वरः। अयोजयन्निग्रहार्थं महिषस् गतायुषः'। सस्मार च तदा स्कन्दं मृत्युं तस्य दुरात्मनः
Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord, having honored Skanda, appointed him to subdue the now-doomed Mahiṣa, and at that moment, he invoked Skanda as the death of that wicked one.
महिषोऽपि रथं दृष्ट्वा रौद्रं रुद्रस् चानदत्। देवान्संत्रासयंश्चापि दैत्यांस्चापिप्रहर्षयत्
Even the buffalo, seeing the fierce chariot and Rudra, roared; he terrified the gods and delighted the demons.
ततस्तस्मिनभये घोरे देवानां समुपस्थिते। आजगाम महासेनः क्रोधात्सूर्य इव ज्वलन्
Then, as that dreadful danger approached the gods, Mahasena arrived, blazing with anger like the sun.
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतो लोहितस्रग्विभूषणः। लोहिताश्वो महाबाहुर्हिरण्यकवचः प्रभुः
Clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands and ornaments, riding a red horse, mighty-armed, and wearing a golden armor, the lord appeared.
रथमादित्यसंकाशमास्थितः कनकप्रभम्। तं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसेना सा व्यद्रवत्सहसा रणे
He mounted a chariot shining like the sun, radiant with gold; seeing him, the demon army fled swiftly in battle.
स चापि तां प्रज्वलितां महिषस् विदारिणीम्। मुमोच शक्तिं राजेनद्र महासेनो महाबलः
Mahasena, of great strength, released a blazing spear, capable of tearing, at the buffalo in the fight.
सा मुक्ताऽभ्यहरत्तस्य महिषस्य शिरो महत्। पपात भिन्ने शिरसि महिषस्त्यक्तजीवितः
Released, it struck the buffalo's great head; his head split, the buffalo fell, life departed.